Saudi winter to be the coldest this year

Riyadh - Forecasts indicate that the country will witness possibly extreme weather conditions

Winter in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is expected to be the coldest — but shortest — yet, according to a climate report released by the Saudi National Center of Meteorology.

Forecasts indicate that those in the kingdom will witness inclement and possibly extreme weather conditions, including heavy rain.

The three-month-long season, which began on December 21, is expected to end astronomically by March 20, 2021.

Analysis of historical climate data has revealed that rainfall would be less than the normal level in most regions of the kingdom.

However, the report — published in the Saudi Gazette — also indicated that surface temperatures will be higher than the normal average in the west, northwest, north and east of the kingdom, by an amount that reaches a maximum of the degree of +1 in the northwest, around the normal rate in the central regions and the southwestern regions, and less than normal in the southern region by -1.

Short-term forecasts indicating the possibility of extreme weather conditions will be made available through the centre’s website (www.ncm.gov.sa).

• Saudi Arabia